Apush American Literature

American Literature:
Colonial Beginnings to the Early Twentieth Century

Group 1: Colonial and Revolutionary Writers

-Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, La Relación on the Spanish explorations born in 1490, died in 1558
in 1527 sailed from Spain on expedition to occupy North America and in 1528 landed in Tampa Bay SummaryCabeza de Vaca’s ship is caught in a storm. Once it runs around on an island, the sailors encounter Native Americans. They are afraid the Indians will sacrifice them, however The Native Americans turn out sympathetic and offer the Spaniards food. After the ship wrecks once again, the Native Americans take the Spaniards to their lodges. Relation

The story talks about an attempt to colonize North America and the Spaniards encountering the Natives.

-William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation
born 1590, died 1657
an on/off governor of Plymouth between years 1621 and 1657
SummaryBradford described Puritan’s obstacles in the New World and how they dealt with it. He also described how their faith in God grew stronger and how they prayed for help in new situations. Relation

The story describes Puritan’s life in New Colonies.

-Anne Bradstreet, Poems: “Verses upon the burning of Our House” and “Before the Birth of One of Her Children” born 1612, died 1672
only one of her poems/stories was published during her lifetime in 1650 SummaryIn “Verses upon the Burning of Our House”, Bradstreet describes her feelings towards her burned home and how she’s internally dealing with it. In “Before the Birth of One of Her Children”, Bradstreet fears death in childbirth and writes a farewell message to her husband. Relation

Describes obstacles and fears of people living in New England in colonial times.

-Jonathan Edwards, Sermon : “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” born 1703, died 1758
Summary
In the sermon, Edwards talked about people having to start praying all the time because that’s what God wants and He will not forgive anyone who doesn’t do so. Relation
Played a role in the 1st Great Awakening and reshaped the religion in colonies for some time

-William Byrd II, The Secret Diary of William Byrd of Westover born 1674, died 1744
founder of Richmond, Virginia
Summary
Byrd talked about his everyday life. He talks about anything, from what he had for breakfast, to his romantic affairs. Relation
It describes life in colonial times.

-Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack
born 1706, died 1790
helped with writing the Declaration of Independence in 1776
SummaryA gazette published from 1732 to 1758. It was very popular during colonial times. People read it for seasonal weather forecasts, practical household hints, puzzles, and other amusements it offered. Relation

It shows how people in colonial times spend their free time, what entertained them, and what were the major views on life in that period.

-Thomas Paine, Common Sense
born 1737, died 1809
SummaryA list of reasons why the Colonies should rebel against Britain. Paine attacked the British monarchy suggesting that the government had many flaws and it was not able to rule the Colonies over the Atlantic Ocean. Relations

It helped unite people towards revolution.

-Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence
born 1743, died 1826
3rd President of US from 1801 to 1809
Summary
The document describes why the Colonies decided the British government is ineffective and why the Colonies decided to unite and come out as it’s own nation.

-Hector St.John de Crèvecoeur, Letters from an American Farmer born 1735, died 1813
Summary
12 letters describing life in America. Each letter talked about different issues such as slavery, farming conditions and the idea of Americans trying to create a utopian society. Relation
It described how a farm in the South lived during those times.

Group 2: Early Nineteenth Century Romantics
-Washington Irving, The Sketch Book, including “Rip Van Winkle” and “the...

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1. Beginnings to 1700
Great mixing of peoples from the whole Atlantic basin
Bloody conflicts between Native Americans (or American Indians) and European explorers and settlers who had both religious and territorial aspirations
- Native American oral literature / oral tradition
- European explorers’ letters, diaries, reports, etc., such as Christopher Columbus’s letters about his voyage to the “New world”.
- Anglo (New England) settlers’ books, sermons, journals, narratives, and poetry
Native American / American Indian oral literature / oral tradition
creation stories（起源神话）
trickster tales（恶作剧者传奇）
rituals / ceremonies（典仪）
songs / chants（曲词）
Anglo Settlers’ Writings
Highly religious and pragmatic
- John Smith, founder of Jamestown, Virginia; Pocahontas
- John Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity”: “… We shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us…”
- William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation (1630-50, pub. 1856)
- Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672), The Tenth Muse (1650), the first volume of poems published by a resident of the New World
- Edward Taylor (1642- 1729), Preparatory Meditations (1682-1725, pub. 1939, 1960)
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· Americanliterature begins with native Americans  orally passed: songs, myths, poetry (later translated into English)
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· John Winthrop  governor of Massachusetts. led a group of English Puritans to the New World, joined the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1629 and was elected their first governor on April 8, 1630. Between 1639 and 1648 he was voted out of governorship and re-elected a total of 12 times. Although Winthrop was a respected political figure, he was criticized for his obstinacy (stubborn) regarding the formation of a general assembly in 1634.
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Academic Year:
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Early American Fiction (1492-1789)
 Literature is told through the oral tradition.
 Works largely consist of origin myths, legends, chants, and other stories.
 Spiritual forces show up in water, land, animals, etc. which shows a major theme in Native Americanliterature…reverence for nature.
 The next period goes from the people that were already here to the people that “discovered” America. This period is called the Exploration Period.
 The main writers during this time were explorers (Christopher Columbus, John Smith, William Bradford) who mainly wrote their accounts down in diaries, journals, and histories. Many of which are more fiction than fact.
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...﻿Native-AmericanLiterature, c.20,000B.C.E.-present
Characteristics
The literature is as diverse as the cultures that created it, but there are often common elements such as stories explaining creation or natural forces.
Major Writers or Works
Oral narratives: Myths; legends; songs; creation stories from groups such as the Zuni, Aztec, Navajo, Lakota, Seneca, Tlingit, Cherokee, Blackfoot, Cree, Inuit, and many more.
Exploration Period, 1492-1607
Characteristics
The first European writings about North America are written in this period.
European writings describe the explorers' travels and impressions of the continent and its Native people.
Major Writers or Works
Prose: Christopher Columbus, Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Thomas Harriot, and Samuel de Champlain.
Oral narratives: Seneca legend "How America was discovered."
Colonial Period, 1607-c.1765
Characteristics
The Colonial period was dominated by Puritan beliefs and thus literature of this period is usually historical, religious, or didactic.
The most common genres were tracts, polemics, journals, narratives, sermons, and some poetry.
The first slave narratives were written at this time.
Imaginative literature was rare; in some colonies, it was banned for being immoral.
Major Writers or Works
Poetry: Michael Wigglesworth, Anne Bradstreet, Edward Taylor.
Prose: John Smith, Roger Williams, Cotton...

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